Black History Month the james farmer multicultural center celebration justice and to build relationships to establish a broader community network'" the James Farmer Multicultural Center is the perfect venue for this celebration of Black History. Its namesake was one of the foremost leaders of the Civil Rights movement who organized the nation's first civil rights sit-iin in Chicago, founded the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and organized the Freedom courageous Emancipation Day celebration, 1900 Rides to desegregate The James Farmer Multicultural interstate bus travel, whose first stop was Center invites all to join them for a here in Fredericksburg. month-long celebration of Black History Month, with a plethora of programs that feature a broad spectrum of genres and content, all of which convey the 2022 theme, "Healing through History: Recognizing our Struggles while Celebrating our Triumphs." The month's offerings range from elements of popular culture, such as a Family Feud night and karaoke, to African Americans' contributions, to the arts, music, science, and politics, to presentations of the daunting challenges and struggles of Black people in America and the triumphs of heroic figures who, with resilience and determination, achieved against the odds and provide inspiration for others to do the same. The Black History Month program was created from suggestions received from UMW faculty, staff, and students and the community in response to a call for proposals, and the schedule was created by a committee chaired by the Multicultural Center's assistant director, Chris Williams. "The month's offerings range from educational, academic lecture programs to entertainment that also showcases an aspect of African American life and culture," said the Center's director Marion Sanford. "In addition, four special meals in the University Center's dining hall will offer a variety of African and African-American, Caribbean, and Creole cuisines." With a mission "to create an educational environment that broadens our understanding and appreciation of multiculturalism, diversity, and social
by collette caprara
Fredericksburg community and a wellknown and respected leader. She has made history with her own achievement. She is the first African-American female Superintendent of the Fredericksburg City Schools," said Sanford.
Musical programs of the celebration will range from the "Jazz Ensemble Black History Tribute: Iconic Jazz Greats" to "The History of Sampling Records in Hip Hop." The programs also feature the determined and inspiring figures whose lives represented triumph over adversity, such as Ida B. Wells and Phillis Wheatley. Ida B. Wells, who was born in Mississippi to enslaved parents, not only rose to achievement as a writer and journalist but also used her skills to become a powerful voice against segregation, the convict lease system, and inequality. Phillis Wheatley was born in West Africa and sold into slavery as a young girl but learned to read and write and became an acclaimed poet and was the first A f r i c a n American author of a published book of poetry.
Group of people who escaped slavery by crossing into Union lines, 1862 Throughout the month, an exhibition of the works of contemporary African American artists titled "Healing Through the Preservation of our Histories and Ourselves" will be featured at UMW's Ridderhof Martin and duPoint Galleries. This exciting, thought-provoking exhibit will encourage reflection and promote healing on multiple levels. Among the artwork included will be some by Jacob Lawrence, who was known for his portrayal of African-American historical subjects and contemporary life. His paintings included his Migration Series which depicted the journey and relocation of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North. The keynote address for the Black History Celebration will be given by Dr. Marceline Catlett. "We are proud to have Dr. Catlett as our keynote speaker. She is a longtime, active member of the
T h e significance of the accomplishments of these women can be fully appreciated
against a backdrop of the struggles and obstacles that African Americans have confronted, and these are depicted in a variety of other programs such as a Great Lives presentation on Emmett Till, a panel discussion titled "What Does Justice Look Like for Black People?" and two films: Just Mercy and Judas and the Black Messiah. With the exception of a $1 donation for the films, all of the university's programs for Black History Month are free of charge. "I would encourage people to come to learn more about the history of African American culture and what individuals have contributed to our country and continue to contribute," said Sanford. "Those who come to these events will learn more about African American history, which is American history, which is world history." The Black History Month offerings of the James Farmer Multicultural Center are also bridgebuilders. They can promote healing, not only within the Black community but also healing beyond boundaries and borders. For a full schedule and description of February's programs, see https://students.umw.edu/multicultural/p rograms/black-history-month-celebration/ Everyone attending the BHM events, including students and children, must show proof of vaccination or have a recent (within 48 hours) negative COVID test to enter. Also, masks are required to be worn at all times when inside buildings on campus. Collette Caprara is an artist & writer Photos courtesy of the Library of Congress
Black Infantry members during the Civil War, 1865 front porch fredericksburg
February 2022
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